Gate



M. RIDDLE Nov. 24, 1925- GATE Filed Nov. 20, 924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuenkoz /MILFORD R\DDLE W il MQ IMZ Nov. 24, 1925- 1,562,789

M. RiDDLE GATE Filed Nov. '20. 1924 .5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MILFORD RmDLE fitter mug FIG. 4.

NOV- 24, A M. RIDDLE I GATE Filed Nov. O, 1924 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 YIQQ " N w K, Q Qm 3 m 0 d .1:

% MILFORD RIDDLE Quorum Patented Nov. 24, 1925. 3

UNITED STATES reams MILFORD RIDDLE, OF BLOQLMEFEELD, INDIANA.

GATE.

Application filed November 20, 1924. Serial No. 751,138.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that MILFORD RIDDLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomfield, in the county of Green and State of Indiana, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gates.

An important object of the invention is to provide means whereby the gate may be positively held against sagging, or may be adjusted above or below the horizontal, and positively locked in the adjusted position, for enabling the same to be properly used with a driveway of irregular surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting, carrying parts of the gate, the load from the brace element, and the hinge element or elements whereby a strong and readily adjustable gate is produced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate of the abovementioned character, which is wholly practical, strong, and relatively cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following,description.

in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gate embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the upper mounting,

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the same,

Figure at is a perspective view of the lower hinge element or mounting,

Figure 5 is a similar view of an attach ing bracket,

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on line 66 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a similar view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of a second form of gate embodying my invention, and

Figure 8* is a side elevation, parts broken away, of a slightly different form of hinge.

In the drawings herein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, attention being first called to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, the numeral 10 designates a mounting, as a whole. This mounting embodies an upper frame 11, including flat sides 12, preferably having openings 13 formed therein, to lighten the same. The upper frame or head is formed integral with a generally U-shaped socket l l, embodying a substantially vertical transverse portion 15, a lower downwardly inclined arm 16, and an upper upwardly inclined arm 17. Formed integral with the vertical portion 15 are knuckles 17 spaced as shown. These knuckles constitute a part of a hinge, to be described.

Horizontal flanges 18 are formed integral with the flat sides 12, and project laterally and outwardly therefrom. This flange is integral with a transverse horizontal web 19, connecting the sides 12, at their top. Formed integral with the upper ends of the sides 12 and with the flanges 18 are depending outwardly projecting flanges 20, as shown.

The vertical portion 15 is provided with outwardly extending flanges 21, integral therewith, which are in alinement with the flanges 20. At its forward end, the lower arm 16 is provided upon its opposite sides with outwardly extending projections or flanges 22, in alinement with outwardly eX- tending flanges 23 formed upon the forward edge of the sides 12, at the inclined arm 17, as shown.

Formed integral with the flanges 18 is an inverted U-shaped joke 2 1, the sides of which are connected by a transverse element or rod 25, integral therewith. It is preferred that all parts of the mounting as above described, be cast integral, and the same may be made of any suitable metal, such as malleable iron.

The numeral 26 designates a lower mounting, which is generally U-shaped, and embodies a vertical transverse portion 27, having upper and lower arms 28 and 29, cast integral therewith. The arms 28 and 29 diverge forwardly, as shown. The vertical portion 27 is provided with knuckles 30, integral therewith, which constitute a part of a hinge, to be described. The transverse portion 27 is provided with vertical out- 35, provided with upwardly extending vertical pintles 36 pivotally receiving thereon the knuckles 17 and 30. Instead of employing this type of hinge element, I contemplate employing I-bolts 37, Figure 8, having eyes 88, arranged between the knuckles,

and pivoted thereto by means of a pin 39. This form of hinge would prevent the gate from being lifted from its hinge.

The numeral designates a pair of )lanks stri s or slats which ma be advanl a a tageously formed of wood, or any other suitable material. These slats are arranged upon the flat faces 12, and engage within the flanges 18, 20, 23, 21, and 22 ofv the upper mounting. It is thus seen that these flanges form a strong connection between the slats and mounting, to hold the slats against twisting movement with relation to the mounting. The lower portions of the pairs of slats 4O engage with the edges of the upper and lower arms 28 and 29 of the lower mounting 26, and are held between the flanges 31 and 32, which constitute a strong connection between these slats and the lower mounting, to prevent the slats from twisting with relation thereto.

The slats 40 are connected by transverse bolts 42, which serve to clamp them to the sides of the upper and lower mountings. The uppermost bolt 42 passes through the openings 13 in the upper head or casting 11, the bolt 42 next to the uppermost bolt, passing through the central portion of the socket 14, while the bolt 42 next to the lowermost bolt passes through the socket of the lower mounting. The other bolts connect the pairs of slats, and all bolts are preferably equidistantly spaced. It is preferred to arrange the lower mounting at the second bolt from the bottom of the gate, for convenience of adjustment or application, but the invention is in no sense restricted to this arrangement, as the lower mounting may be disposed at the lower end of the slats. Attention is i called to the fact that the upper and lower mountings, with the pairs of slats 40, secured thereto, constitute a header which may be manufactured, assembled and sold as a unit. This will dispense with the necessity of shipping the entire gate, as the horizontal slats and transverse slats may be readily obtained at any mill.

The gate embodies horizontal or longitudinal slats 43, arranged in spaced superposed relation. The rear ends of these slats extend between the vertical slats 40 included in the header, and the uppermost slat enters the socket of the upper mounting, while the slat next to the lowermost slat enters the socket of the lower mounting. All slats are provided at their rear ends with transverse openings to pivotally receive the bolts 42. It is thus seen that the several horizontal slats are pivoted to the header to swing vertically.

At the free end of the slats, are arranged a pair of vertical or transverse slats 44, disposed upon opposite sides thereof, and pivoted thereto, bybolts 45. I also preferably provide an intermediate vertical or transverse slat 46, arranged upon one side of the longitudinal slats 43, and pivoted thereto by bolts 47 I have found that one transverse slat 46 is sufflcient, but I of course contemplate using a pair of these slats, upon opposite sides of the longitudinal slats, when it is found advantageous to do so.

The numeral 48 designates a bracket, having its base serrated, as shown at 49 and this bracket is rigidly attached to one of the longitudinal slats 43, preferably at its lower edge, by means of nails 50 or the like, passing through openings 51. Any other suitable means may be employed to attach the bracket to the longitudinal slat. The bracket 48 is provided with a transverse opening 52, receiving a pivot element or bolt 53, passed through the lower apertured end of a diagonal brace 54. This diagonal brace is provided at its upper end with a set of hooked teeth extending longitudinally of the brace, for a suitable distance. The end of the brace is passed through the yoke 24, and a selected tooth 55 is adapted to engage over the transverse rod or pin 25.

I preferably employ a section of barbed wire 55 at the top of the gate, and this wire is suitably attached to the slats 44 and 46 and may be tied or otherwise suitably attached to the transverse portion of the yoke 24.

Any suitable form of latch, not shown, may be employed to hold the gate closed.

Attention is now called to Figure 8 of the drawings, wherein a modified form of the invention is illustrated. In this figure, the 1 .header embodying the pairs of slats 40, and upper and lower mountings, remain identical. The uppermost longitudinal slat 43 is employed and the longitudinal slat 43 above the lowermost slat, is also employed. These slats arepivotally connected with the slats 40 of the header, by the bolts 42, and their free ends, are pivotally connected with the slats 44, as is described in Figure 1.

The space between the slats 43, Figure 8, may be filled by a wire fabric 56, connected at each end with a transverse spreader 57, carrying horizontal vertically spaced cars 58. These ears have a plurality of apertures, for adjustable connect-ion with I-bolts 59, and these I-bolts pass through apertures in transversecleats 60, engaging the outer edges of the slats of the header. It is obvious that by taking up the nuts 61 of the I-bolts, the spreaders 57 will function to suitably stretch the wire fabric 56. All other parts of the gate remain identical with those shown and described in connection with the first form of the invention. However, where the wire fabric is employed, the slats 43 may be formed of metal pipes, the ends of which will be apertured for receiving the bolts.

In the use of my gate, the free end of the gate is raised or lowered, from the horizontal as may be required on account of the condition of the surface of the road. For instance, if snow accumulates at the foot of the gate, it may be vertically adjusted to avoid it, and locked in the selected elevated position. The gate, is of course, free to swing in either direction. An important feature of the invention is the provision of the upper mounting, which not only has the slats of the header rigidly secured thereto, but carries the major portion of the load of the gate, and also the entire load from the diagonal brace. unich is very strong and durable.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape,

size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a gate of the character described, as a sub-combination, an upper integral mounting including a generally U-shaped socket, a head arranged above the socket and formed integral with the upper end thereof, said head having side faces to contact with transverse slats, a yoke extending above the head and carried by the upper end thereof, said yoke having an anchor element, means whereby a pair of transverse slats may be securely held upon the side faces of said head, and a hinge element carried by the mounting.

2. A gate including an inner header, said header including an upper mounting, said mounting comprising a head and socket, said head and socket having laterally extended flanges, said head having an anchor element rigidly secured thereto, a lower mounting comprising a socket having laterally extending flanges, a pair of transverse slats engaging opposite sides of said mountings and held between said flanges, transverse bolts passing through the slats and serving to bind them upon the mountings selected bolts passing through the sockets,

This produces a gatehinge elements carried by the sockets, coacting stationary hinge elements engaging the first named hinge elements, longitudinal slats extending between the transverse slats and pivotally mounted upon said bolts, selected longitudinal slats extending into said sockets, a transverse slat pivotally connected with the free-end portions of the longitudinal slats, and a diagonal brace connected with one longitudinal slat and having means for adjustable engagement with the anchor element of the upper mounting.

3. A gate including an inner header, said header including an upper integral mounting, said mounting comprising an upper head having flat faces and a socket arranged beneath the head, said head and socket having laterally extending flanges, said socket having a hinge element formed integral therewith, a yoke formed integral with the upper end of the head and having a transverse anchor element, a lower integral mounting embodying a socket having laterally extending flanges and also provided with a hinge element, stationary hinge elements engaging the first named hinge elements, a pair of transverse slats engaging the opposite sides of the mountings and held between the laterally extending flanges, trans verse bolts connecting the slats and serving L to bind them to said mountings, selected bolts passing through said sockets, longitudinal slats having their inner ends arranged between the transverse slats and pivoted upon the bolts, selected slats extending into said sockets, a transverse slat pivotally connecting the longitudinal slats at a point re mote from the pair of transverse slats, and a diagonal brace connected with one of the longitudinal slats and having a longitudinal set of teeth to engage with the anchor element of the yoke.

t. A gate including a header, including an upper integral mounting, said mounting embodying an upper head having flat sides and a substantially U-shaped socket formed upon the lower end thereof, said head and socket having laterally projecting flanges, said socket having a hinge element integral therewith, an inverted U-shaped yoke formed integral with the top of the head and provided below its upper end with a transverse pin, a lower mounting having a hinge element, a pair of transverse slats arranged upon the opposite sides of the mountings and engaging between the flanges of the upper mounting, co-acting hinge elements engaging the first named hinge elements, bolts passing through the transverse slats and serving to bind them to said mountings, longitudinal slats extending between the transverse slats and pivoted upon said bolts, a transverse slat pivotally connecting the longitudinal slats at a point remote from the transverse slats, and a diagonal brace connected with one of the longitudinal slats and having a longitudinal set of teeth to engage with the transverse pin of the yoke.

5. In a gate of the character described, as a subco1nbinati0n, an upper integral mounting comprising a head having fiat faces, a socket carried by the lower end of the head,

anchor element carried by the head for engagement with a diagonal brace.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MILFORD RIDDLE. 

